Here are my results and thoughts of Out of Africa Unrefined Shea Butter. You may read my review on what this product is here.
I was researching on natural essential oils and body butters to find a natural and organic way to heal my dermatitis or eczema skin which I started developing 4 years ago when I started working at my last job. I was exposed to a lot of dust, germs, and bacteria in the store I was working in. Sweating did not make it any better because my neck have a few patches that got bigger from sweat irritations and from my uncontrollable scratching. I seriously tried so many ways to make it heal but it was not permenant. The doctor prescribed me medication that did not heal it but controlled the itchiness. I tried hydro-cortisone, ointments, neosporin, lotions, creams, coconut oil, jojoba oil, Egyptian Magic, a healthier and organic diet etc. Nothing seem to help it heal. The patch on my arm started healing after I quit, but it left some pigmentation and scarring. It's very frustrating and irritating to deal with. It's embarrassing to have on my neck since I try to cover it with my hair or clothing. I can't figure out how and why it developed on my skin because I never had that problem in my life before.
DISCLAIMER: These are results and effects of the product on me. It may react differently on every person. Test in a small area first and see how your skin reacts. Consult your doctor before use. This is not a cure or miracle for any disease. Discontinue use if your skin is developing any allergic reaction.
I was researching on natural essential oils and body butters to find a natural and organic way to heal my dermatitis or eczema skin which I started developing 4 years ago when I started working at my last job. I was exposed to a lot of dust, germs, and bacteria in the store I was working in. Sweating did not make it any better because my neck have a few patches that got bigger from sweat irritations and from my uncontrollable scratching. I seriously tried so many ways to make it heal but it was not permenant. The doctor prescribed me medication that did not heal it but controlled the itchiness. I tried hydro-cortisone, ointments, neosporin, lotions, creams, coconut oil, jojoba oil, Egyptian Magic, a healthier and organic diet etc. Nothing seem to help it heal. The patch on my arm started healing after I quit, but it left some pigmentation and scarring. It's very frustrating and irritating to deal with. It's embarrassing to have on my neck since I try to cover it with my hair or clothing. I can't figure out how and why it developed on my skin because I never had that problem in my life before.
After applying this to my skin day and night. Here are my results and thoughts. I will be showing some photos of my weekly skin condition. Do not continue if you do not wish to see my rash as some might find it disturbing. I will post small pictures, so if you wish to see more details then click to enlarge.
Week 1-2:
The first few days I been applying it on my dry rashes morning and night. I leave the jar on my desk and I reapply throughout the day. At first it feels like it's just sitting on my skin, but it eventually soaks into my skin. After about 4 days I can feel minor improvements. Nothing dramatic happened, my skin felt quenched. The second week, my skin was really inflamed and red. I was picking the skin off and scratching it. I have bad self control at scratching and picking my skin. The dry patches on my rash started to peel a bit and I can feel it smoothing out. I'm not sure if I put too much shea butter or from sweating when I workout, but acne was forming on my rash. I hope it's not clogging my pores because it didn't work so well on my face. I tried a small area to see if it can help with my scarring, but it caused a blemish instead. After all the skin peeling, my rash is really red. I hope this is working. I think the peeling is reducing the swelling
Week 3-4
I was pretty skeptical at first when it seem to be moisturizing more than healing. After my skin started peeling, my rash gotten smaller and not as red and swollen as before. The color has faded a bit compared to the first two weeks. The acne on my rashes went away. My skin feel a lot smoother I'm pretty hopeful that this will work and help me get rid of my problem skin. My skin still itches, but at least it's not as inflamed as before. The rash on my arm gotten smaller, but the pigmentation is still visible. I put a small dent (1/3) in my jar already. I think it should last me for at least a few months or more. After using it for a few weeks, I don't even notice the nutty smell anymore. I'm in love with this stuff and I can't stop reaching for it. I don't even use lotion anymore. This is a lot better.
I will continue to use this product and see if my scar will go away. I will update when my skin clears up. I hope this is helpful to you and help you if you are suffering from dry skin, eczema, dermatitis, and etc. This is an ultra rich moisturizer that is loaded with antioxidants, vitamin A, E, and F. It's not a miracle cream so you have to be patient to see results. Results may vary from person to person. You can even use this stuff on babies.
Current status (9/17/11): I been off my routine on applying shea butter to my skin lately. I haven't really take any pictures, but by looking in the mirror I see some more improvements on my problem skin. The patch on my arm is completely gone. The patch behind my neck has shrunk down and it might be a slow process for it to completely heal. The ones on the side of my neck haven't really made too big of a difference, but definitely smaller and less inflamed as before. For some reason, I think it's because the patch is so thick, it tends to clog the pores a bit in those area and it creates some acne breakout. So that's why I been kind of on and off to make sure it isn't irritating it even more. However, I still love this product and uses it everyday on my lips day and night. I had tried this on my stretch marks in my inner thigh a while back and now I noticed that the texture had improved and my skin there looks a little more plump. I doubt it will completely disappear, but it does help improve a bit.
The first few days I been applying it on my dry rashes morning and night. I leave the jar on my desk and I reapply throughout the day. At first it feels like it's just sitting on my skin, but it eventually soaks into my skin. After about 4 days I can feel minor improvements. Nothing dramatic happened, my skin felt quenched. The second week, my skin was really inflamed and red. I was picking the skin off and scratching it. I have bad self control at scratching and picking my skin. The dry patches on my rash started to peel a bit and I can feel it smoothing out. I'm not sure if I put too much shea butter or from sweating when I workout, but acne was forming on my rash. I hope it's not clogging my pores because it didn't work so well on my face. I tried a small area to see if it can help with my scarring, but it caused a blemish instead. After all the skin peeling, my rash is really red. I hope this is working. I think the peeling is reducing the swellingWeek 3-4
I was pretty skeptical at first when it seem to be moisturizing more than healing. After my skin started peeling, my rash gotten smaller and not as red and swollen as before. The color has faded a bit compared to the first two weeks. The acne on my rashes went away. My skin feel a lot smoother I'm pretty hopeful that this will work and help me get rid of my problem skin. My skin still itches, but at least it's not as inflamed as before. The rash on my arm gotten smaller, but the pigmentation is still visible. I put a small dent (1/3) in my jar already. I think it should last me for at least a few months or more. After using it for a few weeks, I don't even notice the nutty smell anymore. I'm in love with this stuff and I can't stop reaching for it. I don't even use lotion anymore. This is a lot better. I will continue to use this product and see if my scar will go away. I will update when my skin clears up. I hope this is helpful to you and help you if you are suffering from dry skin, eczema, dermatitis, and etc. This is an ultra rich moisturizer that is loaded with antioxidants, vitamin A, E, and F. It's not a miracle cream so you have to be patient to see results. Results may vary from person to person. You can even use this stuff on babies.
Current status (9/17/11): I been off my routine on applying shea butter to my skin lately. I haven't really take any pictures, but by looking in the mirror I see some more improvements on my problem skin. The patch on my arm is completely gone. The patch behind my neck has shrunk down and it might be a slow process for it to completely heal. The ones on the side of my neck haven't really made too big of a difference, but definitely smaller and less inflamed as before. For some reason, I think it's because the patch is so thick, it tends to clog the pores a bit in those area and it creates some acne breakout. So that's why I been kind of on and off to make sure it isn't irritating it even more. However, I still love this product and uses it everyday on my lips day and night. I had tried this on my stretch marks in my inner thigh a while back and now I noticed that the texture had improved and my skin there looks a little more plump. I doubt it will completely disappear, but it does help improve a bit.
DISCLAIMER: These are results and effects of the product on me. It may react differently on every person. Test in a small area first and see how your skin reacts. Consult your doctor before use. This is not a cure or miracle for any disease. Discontinue use if your skin is developing any allergic reaction.
First off I would like to say thank you for being highly specific and honest. Most people are very discrete about products and don't even give you the full experience or truth about how it effected them or how to use it but not you, you were very specific and honest like I previously stated. Like you. I was very skeptical at first. So I didn't wanna purchase this product. Because I had purchase their tin can organic shea butter with grapefruit in the past which I apply on my hands, face, hair, and a small portion of my body. On my hands it was like a miracle, at the time my hand were very dry crack and even bleed from over cleaning and washing them but as soon a I applied the butter it didn't burn or disturb the crack/dry skin like alcohol based lotion and creams and even had it glowing. I'm a guy so I really don't worry about my nails but it made my nails grow rapidly I don't know if it was a gift or a curse. On my face it was super greasy and slippery and made me break out bad, but in the product defense I was all willy nilly with the product applying to much to my face oils in general are very potent and a little goes a long way so that was mostly my fault also I was using a random assortments of soap and then just applying right after a shower and I believe the soap residue, oils, and toxins was blocking the shea butter from healing and moisturizing the skin. Same with the hair too much at one time I was impatient didn't clean my hair really and etc. The tin was very small so it didn't really effect my body at all. Now I reconsidering the product. With my new method for hair growth and healthier skin. For my skin and face I am buying the neutrogena naturals line minus the makeup remover (http://naturals.neutrogena.com/?utm_source=n_com&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=n_com_hp) and Outofafricashea shea butter. The netrogena naturals lines is suppose to remove 99 percent of dirt, toxins, and doesn't clog pores. My method is use the soap first scrub second and the facial cleanser last dab my face with a dry towel and add a little shea butter to my face. For my hair (by the way I'm African American) just so you know. But intywayz for my hair I use Desert Essence Award winning Coconut Shampoo & Conditioner(http://www.desertessence.com/hair-care/coconut-shampoo) (http://www.desertessence.com/hair-care/coconut-conditioner) Spectrum Extra Virgin Coconut Oil which I gonna use twice a week for an hour then rinse with shampoo and conditioner then apply the shea butter or dessert essence organic jojoba oil I'm either use the them one one day and the other the next or use them in separate weeks back or take half the shea butter and half the jojoba oil melt them down and fuse them together oil hair moisturizer idek! Also it would cool and helpful if you made youtube video and updates on your skin and the product. P.S. sorry for the story.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my blog and enjoying my review. Very nice to see a guy comment and also sharing your experience. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Shea Butter. It does amazing things on my skin. I'm Chinese and I put Coconut Oil on my hair as a treatment and jojoba oil for so many different purposes. Sorry I don't have a Youtube channel, I'm pretty camera shy and I always feel weird talking to a camera LOL. I'll seriously run away if someone is recording a video. I give props to those who make them.
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